Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-10-13
WASHINGTON Letter

From OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON. OCTOBER, nth, 1887.
Workmen are busy about the Capitol
building preparing for the coming ses-
sion. The fresco painters will be through
with their work by the end Of Novem-
Der. The new carpet for the Senate
has arrived and will be laid this week.
The floor of the House Of Representa-
tives will also be covered with a new
carpet, but it has not arrived us yet.
These are the only new carpets that
were, purchased. The committee and
other rooms will have the same carpets
as last year. The only change i'll com.
mittce rooms is the moving of the arpro.
priation committc to the speaker S room.
1t is expected by the employees OF the
Senate that there will be many changes
in their ranks this winter, on account
of the great pressure on Republican
Senators for positions. St nator Malone
will not move his effects from his late
committee room till December. He
seems loath TO leave.
On the House side the general feel.
ing is that all the principal officers,
with, perhaps, the exception of Door
keeper Donelson, will be reelected.
However, there are two candidates for
the place, Clerk Barnett, of the House
Library, and Mr.. A. B. Hurt, chief of
the Mail Division Of the Post Office DE.
partment. Mr.. Barnett halls from New
York, and is said to be well backed,
though the delegation is not solid for
him. Mr.. Hurt is from Mississippi, and
has the entire delegation Of his State.
Colonel Donelson, the present door
keeper, is from Tennessee. The dAega-
ton from his State is pronounced for
him, and lie has good following from
the South, while Il great number Of
Northern members are counted for him.
EX.Treasurer Jordan was in the city
Saturday accompanied by Mr.. Thomas
J. Brennan, Mr.. Manning's former prI-
vatc secretary. Mr.. Jordon had 4 long
talk with Mr.. Fairchild, but it was de-
clared at the Department that their
conference had nothing to do with the
purchase of bonds.
The detail of officers and men for the
Marion, of the Asiatlc station, Is being
prepared at the Navy Department, and
the orders will be issued in few days.
The new officers will be sent to Panama
on the mail steamers. and the Marion
will arrive there soon from China and
and the exchange will be made, the yes.
sci returning afterwards to her station.
This method Of exchanging officers and
men is regarded as more satisfactory
and economical than either sending the
new officers by steamer, to u distant
station, or ordering the vessel to navy
yard. The former is very expensive
and the latter invariably results in long
DELAYS on account Of extensive repairs,
or the loss OF the vessel to the navy by
condemnation. When navy yard
once gets hold of vessel that is not of
recent build it is very difficult to get
her out again in any reasonable time.
The rapidity with which the older yes.
GELS have been retired from active SER
vice lately makes it necessary to keep
the remaining ones atloat as long as
possible without extensive repairs, SO
that good portion Of the officers of the
navy can be kept on active service I'M
til more Of the new vessels can takc.thc
! place OF the old ones.
The work on the fine State. War and
Navy Department building, which is
pronounced the grandest public struct-
IRE in The Federal city, is nearing com
( pletlon, and will, it is expected be ready
for occupation early next January.
Secretary Fairchild has issued a cir
cular to the custom officials urging
! their adoption Of new economic moth.